Mechanical joint.



No. 634,595. Patented Oct. l0, |899.

yw. H. Tuunrsbn;

MECHANICAL JOINT.

(Applicativn ined Il y 22, 1899.) y

(Ilo Model.)

W'z'Lne/,ss 65, I JAM. #M4/m WM, v

UNITED STATES,"

PATENT OFFICE.

WILIlIAM HAVELOOK THOMPSON, OF GATESHEAD, ENGLAND,

MECHANICAL JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming partrof Letters Patent No. 684,595, dated October10, 1899.

Application tiled May 22, 1899. kSerial No. 717,807. (llo model.)

To @ZZ 1071/0112,- L't may Concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM HAvELooK THOMPSON, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, residing at Gateshead-upon-Tj-'ne, in the county ofDurham, England, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements inMechanical Joints, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanical joints for connecting the parts oftubular structures, such as velocipede-frames, and has for its o'bjectto provide a joint in which the member and lug shall be incapable ofmaterial relative rotation during the process of connection and whichshall be completed without the employment of heat, as in brazing. Iatt-ain these objects by constructing the joint in the mannerillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure I is a sideelevation of a join t, showing, by way of example, the ltop tube of ave-v loeipede-frarne connected to the upper lug of the steering-head.Fig. II is a central ver- `tical section through the joint.V Fig. III isa transverse section on the line III III in Fig. I. Figs. IV, V, VI,and'VII are end elevations of the lug, tube, plug, and liner,respectively. Fig. VIII is a side elevationof the liner. l

The same numerals refer to the same parts throughout the drawings. f

In constructing a joint according to my invention I employ a lug 2 ofusual form and bore the same with a preferably conical hole 3, enlargingslightly inwardly, which hole is made a fairly-close t for the end ofthe tube 4 to be secured therein. I make a number of slight longitudinalgrooves 5 in the lug and provide the tube end with corresponding ribs G.These ribs may be pressed or drawn on the tube or may be otherwiseformed thereon, so as to produce corresponding channels 7 in theinterior thereof. The ribs may be confined to the ends of the tube ormay extend along the whole or a shorter part or parts thereof. l

A liner 8, preferably of somewhat greater length than the hole 3 in thelug 2, is fitted into the end of the tube 4. This liner is provided onthe exterior with ribs 9, adapted to engage in the channels 7'in thetube end. It is tapped internally with a fine thread 10 for a distancecorresponding to the length of the hole 3 and 4is split longitudinallywith, say, four quidistant cuts ll, extending along and some distancebeyond its tapped portion'lO. The said tapped portion of the liner ismade slightly taper internally, contracting toward the complete end l2.The cuts 1l are preferably made near to the left sides of the respectiveribs 9 to prevent dis placement of the parts et' the liner when puttingthe joint together. The liner 8 is inserted in the end of the tube withits complete part l2 farthest from the mouth of the tube.

TheY end ofthe tube 4 is adapted to be expanded within the lug 2 by aslightly taper hollow plug 13, which screws into and expands the liner8. This plug is screw-thread-` ed and tapered Vexternally to correspondto the interior of vthe liner, but is of slightly larger averageexternal diameter than the average internal 'diameter of the said liner.The bore 14 of the plug is made of other than circular transversesection, so that the said lplug may be rotated` by a tool of suitableform thrust thereinto. A suitable form for the bore of the plug may beobtained by drilling a series of equidistant holes lengthwise throughthe plug, the effect of the drilling vbeing to cut away the axialportion of the lplug and leave a series of internal parallel ribs 1S, asshown. These ribs materially assist the plug in resisting radialcrushing strains and aiord a hold for the rotating tool. The lug ispreferably provided with external ribs, such as 17, to compensate forthe weakening Aeect of the grooves 5.

To construct the joint, theliner S is Iitted into the end of the tube e,with the ribs 9 engaging in the channels '7, and the plug 13 is screwedinto the liner as far as may be withoutinteriering with the entering ofthe tube end into the lug, the grooves 5 in which lug receive the ribs 6on the tube. The end of the tube carrying the liner and plug is thenthrust into the hole 3 in the lug. Finally the plug i3 is screwed wellinto the liner S, and the tapering of these two parts causes theexpansion of the split part of the liner, which in turn causes theexpansion of the tube end 4 and the jamming thereof wit-hin the lug 2.

' The engagement of the ribs 6 and 9 with ICO the grooves and channels 5and 7, respectively, forms an important part of my invention, as unlessrotary movement of the tube 4 and liner 8 relatively to the lug 2 beprevented the parts are very liable to get ont of position as soon asany considerable force is exerted in screwing in the plug, and suchdisplacement would prevent the proper construction of the joint. Thepart l2 of the liner extending beyond the lug acts as a reinforcement.Any suitable means may be employed for screwing in the plugs, thosemeans being preferred which do not involve the drilling of largeadditional holes in lthe lugs or other parts of the frame. By thesemeans the end of the tube 4 (which may be split or entire) is grippedbetween the liner 84 and the lug 2 and is firmly secured to the saidlug.

The invention may be applied to structures in which the tubes may bemade of steel, aluminium, or other suitable ductile metal or material.Similarly any suitable material may be employed for the lug, liner, andplug. Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. In a mechanical joint, the combination with the lug and the tubularmember to be secured thereto, of a hole in the said lug, longitudinalgrooves in the said hole, :ribs on the tube end adapted to engage in thegrooves in the lug, longitudinal channels in the tube end, a liner, ribson the said liner adapted to engagev in the channels in `the tube end, ascrew-thread and longitudinal slots in the said liner, a taper plug anda screw-thread on such plug adapted to engage in the screwthread in thesaid liner, substantially as set forth.

2. In a mechanical joint, the combination with the lug and the tubularmember to be secured thereto, of a hole inthe said lug, longitudinalgrooves in the said hole, ribs on the tube end adapted to engage in thegrooves in the lug, longitudinal channels in the tube end, a liner, ribson the said liner adapted to engage in the channels in the tube end, ascrewthread and longitudinal slots in the said liner, a taper plug, ascrew-thread on such plug adapted to engage in the screw-thread in thesaid liner and a non-circular bore to the plug adapted to receive a toolwhereby the said plug may be rotated, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM IIAVELOCK THOMPSON.

Vitnesses:

J. A. DIXON, THos. HENDERsoN.

